What happened
A non-stop scheduled flight, operating as LO232, departed from Warsaw-Okecie Airport bound for Moscow. The aircraft was transporting 8 passengers and 5 crew members, along with 819 kg of cargo and mail. During the flight, the aircraft maintained contact with air traffic control services while navigating through stormy weather conditions.
As the flight progressed between Wiazma and Klimentiewo, the pilot reduced altitude following instructions from controllers due to the severe weather. While flying over Klimentiewo at an altitude of 400 m, the pilot reported seeing the ground and received permission to descend further to 300 m while heading toward Vnukovo Airport. At 23:07 local time, approximately five minutes before its expected arrival, the crew requested clearance for their approach. After being transferred to approach control, the pilot acknowledged the instructions for a specific instrument approach procedure.
However, the aircraft struck the ground during this phase of flight because the crew did not follow the required approach protocols. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft type (not specified by registration, but identified as the transport involved). The accident resulted in 9 fatalities (5 passengers and 4 crew) and left 3 passengers seriously injured.
Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft struck the terrain while flying at an extremely low altitude. This occurred because the crew utilized an approach method that deviated from the official procedures prescribed for Vnukovo Airport. Additionally, unforecasted stormy weather contributed to the circumstances surrounding the accident.